Giving Scholarships
Together, We Build the Future
At St. Mary’s University, scholarships open doors — making a life-changing education possible for students with great promise and limited means. Your gift to scholarships can change the course of a student’s life, honor a loved one and create a lasting legacy rooted in our Catholic and Marianist values.
How to Give to Scholarships
Whether you create a new scholarship or contribute to an existing fund, your gift helps ensure St. Mary’s remains a place of opportunity, transformation and hope for generations to come. To discuss your scholarship gift, please contact the Office of University Advancement.
Types of Scholarships
Endowed Scholarship
An endowed scholarship is a permanent fund that provides student support year after year—forever. Your gift is invested, and a portion of the annual earnings is awarded to students while the principal remains intact to grow over time. You can also continue to give to this scholarship to help it have an even larger impact on future Rattlers!
- You may establish an endowed scholarship with a gift of $50,000, either as a one-time donation or through a pledge payable over up to five years.
- Lasting legacy: Funds are awarded annually in perpetuity
- Customize your gift: Name the scholarship and define criteria (e.g., area of study, financial need, merit, leadership)
Example: A $50,000 endowment may generate approximately $2,375 annually to support students. A $100,000 endowment would provide about $4,750 each year. St. Mary’s Board of Trustees sets the “spending rate”. The spending rate is applied to the market value of each endowed fund and the resulting figure is the endowment distribution
Endowed Scholarship
Annual Scholarship
An annual scholarship provides immediate and flexible support for students.
- Minimum suggested gift: $5,000 per year, for a commitment of at least three years
- Immediate impact: Your gift is awarded in full each year
- Great for new donors: Begin supporting students now while considering a long-term endowed gift
Annual Scholarship
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Scholarships are vital because they make education accessible to students in a meaningful way. They alleviate the financial burden, allowing students to focus on their studies and fully engage in campus life. Scholarships have empowered me to pursue my education and open doors of opportunities I might not have otherwise had. I plan to pay it forward after I graduate. ”
Rosa, Class of 2025
